Thread regarding Macy's Inc. layoffs

ASTS did not get cut..this time. I was surprised but know anything’s possible later this year or next.

AST Associates....my store didn’t cut anymore this time ...we are at 1 and 1 which is the lowest you can go but I know of other stores in our district that lost a Ft or a Pt, or had a Ft cut to Pt...these were much bigger stores that didn’t get cut as deep as we did last year.

Do we have any AST news yet today?

spring ownership 2018....there will be cuts. ast in hsq will be cut because they just merged with the hr team last spring. only store not using dmet, until this year.

no need for too many people in the office. asts and maybe a asta in smaller stores.

And also quoting this post... I did not see cuts in the budget dated 12/22/17 under the weekly reports. Everything was the same from when the cuts were made to the AST budget in August.

well, just because there were no cuts on 12/22 DOES NOT mean there won’t be cuts on 2/4. That’s a piss poor indicator that AST will still exist in 2018 🤪🤪🤪

Quoting this : What about AST? You would think they would keep ASTS and cut AST. You need at least one person in the office for vault, onboarding, timekeeping, terminations, etc.

Well, who does the job when you go on vacation or it’s your day off? You have to have two of those a week, right? You can’t just have an ASTS without an AST associate or two to do the job every day of the week......” so sorry, it’s my day off so no vault today !” Think before you post, ok?

Nervous Nellie, I don't know. Don't even know if there will even be an AST team. I guess next week we will hear more. I don't think there will be an AST Supervisor in smaller doors. But someone has to be there to actually hire people and monitor the interview schedules and print applications, not to mention cash office. They can't expect the sales managers to do all that too. Funny how all holiday season I had to deal with customers coming to the office complaining about no associates on the sales floor anywhere and if there are any, it's only 2 people with a line 20 deep. Just thought to myself soon there won't be anyone in the office for you to come and complain to.

when will AST's get to see spring ownership and hours build?

I don't think we would see a change in the AST budget/plans for this year. Any eliminations won't be effective until 2018 fiscal new year so changes will reflect in the new budgets. I also had the same question, who is going to administer severance conversations if the HRM's are out sooner than expected? It will probably be done over the phone with an HR rep the way things are going.

I did not see cuts in the budget dated 12/22/17 under the weekly reports. Everything was the same from when the cuts were made to the AST budget in August.

Anyone have any updates on the status of AST people?

HRM are getting cut, that's for sure. They are already going to interviews this weeks. After January 6th they will be not HR. AS of ASTS will not be surprised they will be more cuts, nobody is safe. That they need somebody in the office??? Yes, but one person can do everything ... It's just they are putting more on the SM which it's not even fair ... how much more can they handle?!!!! It's ridiculous.

They will utilized the ASTS for inventory and then what?... a lot of the OPM are new and do not know nothing so they need them ..... CRAZY!

They can't even afford to do the cuts now ... but after all it's over then they will say thanks for your service, I guarantee

Why would the ast start making a plan if they haven’t even been told to prepare? The company expects to be taken care of as they spring it on them that they won’t have jobs. AST people lookout for you and get your resumes updated. That place has every intention of going on without you and believe me, they will.

Does anyone know when in January the changes will take place? After inventory?

I suggest if you work in AST, make sure you resume is updated! And for the people who say, how will this get done or who will do that, there is a plan in place.

i believe that store managers know and that hrm's have a pretty good idea. they have been watching webinars for a while about ONE HR so they see what is coming down the road. if you have been through it before, you can see the signs.

they will need AST for certain functions, but it does not have to be called AST anymore. they could come up with a new title, like people leaders, which was mentioned below. who know? one thing is for sure, the sales managers will bare the brunt of the work as they will need to take more ownership of their area.

The store managers know (mine does) but I don’t think the hrm’s know for sure, but they know the ast teams will be impacted. There will be minimal ast associates as someone has to be there to do the actual hiring and monitoring Taleo applications and interviews. Not to mention all cash office functions too.

I bet the HRMs are aware. They’ve known that their positions would change and it would just be a matter of time. Nothing formal has been announced but you can put the picture together though all the side conversation. Nothing has been shared with the Store Managers because it’s important to stay focused on the busy holiday sales period.

Who has this been announced to? Are Store Managers aware of the changes that are coming in 2018? What about District Vice Presidents and HRM's?

it is probably better for anybody to wait at this point to see if they are offered a package. big changes are coming. insite will be totally revamped with the push to use ask hr and the my hr function. there has been webinars on this and more to come.. There will be People Leaders and the HRBP's, human resource business partners, Functions that you use to go to AST, HR or the executive office, can be done right on insite. Managers will own their business more, especially with regards to HR functions. It is funny, but on documents I have seen, I do not see anything mentioning that AST has a role in this. So I assume that there will restructuring. I just assume some of the newly created positions will pull from AST.

Based on the previous comment, then it’s time to start looking for new opportunities if you’re an ASTS. I’ve seen quite a few fromour AST group leave for good admin opportunities at other places. The AST group, especially the supervisor, has a broad set of skills that easily translates to other admin jobs. In addition, the multitasking and customer service experience would be valued by other employers.

did anyone else get an inquiry about how long certain AST tasks take?

I am an AST supervisor and was told the position will be eliminated next year. The info was from a reliable source. There will be an AST team but only part time. As for Flagship or larger volume stores, there may be a full time with a couple of part time—my opinion as there’s no way larger stores can function without a solid ast team. Smaller doors can’t either. I’m just preparing to get a package and then look for something else. And if I have to apply for sales or flex team to help supplement the other bills, will do that too as I continue to seek employment.

Not sure that anyone knows for certain, but HR will be downsized. I’ve already seen some leave Macy’s for other jobs and some pick up additional locations. I don’t believe anything will happen to the AST group in 2018, but if I was in AST I would be looking for a sales job to transfer into.

I am confused. Which is being positions are being cut? HRM, ASTS, AST?

I believe that many HRM's know that their jobs are being eliminated, but I believe they will be used in a different capacity centrally located. Not all of them will be placed and receive packages. I am wondering what stores use SM or OPS for the vault instead of AST? How will the changes effect big stores like HSQ where AST which was implemented in 2014 as OPS only, just took over HR and the vault this past year. Because of the size of HSQ though, it was not the best idea and not a success. Many SM's preferred the dedicated staff in each area to what AST is doing now. HSQ has AST Manager and ASTS'. DMET will be implemented to HSQ next year resulting in cuts in AST. Many tasks will be the responsibility of the SM's.

I know it’s inevitable that HRMs will be eliminated, but I don’t understand how that makes any business sense. All their work will fall to over-tasked SMs, ASTS’ who may be eliminated next, or Store Managers who are already jaded by yearly cuts and increased expectations as Macy’s tries everything to find the magic bullet. I am worried for the future of so many great peers. The DIstrict Merchant Team has to be another group to be removed next. They’ve been put through the ringer on an annual basis. Last years consolidation of Bay North was tragic.

I work at Union Square, can confirm HRM jobs are getting eliminated. AST Supervisor positions are safe for at least another year, cuts to the AST hours from earlier this year will continue into next year. We have regional team members walking around the store already discussing upcoming changes for 2018, sounds like they will be significant depending on where you work in the store, district, or region.

yes, they could change the job title of the ASTS but it would be difficult not to have an AST associate also to help with the other daily tasks. some that the managers will not be able to do. isn't HR the biggest part of AST?? If they do this....they could just go back to the office manager and HRA model that they had before AST in 2010. it worked very well.

They could re-title ASTS to executive assistant and have them cover all the functions, including HR. The AskHR tool is being pushed to greater use. Clockings and terminations are done by executives. Sales executives are also doing the opening/closing vault. Paper costs are being monitored like a hawk so there is no more report printing. The necessity of the AST group is being phased out. Maybe they can transition to the service centers if that rollout continues.

AST Supervisors are more familiar with the legal compliance aspect of things so is it possible the AST team will be eliminated and the Supervisors remain?

I seriously doubt this. This could never happen. This is obviously a fake rumor.

AST ssociates cost less. If they cut AST, it is more logical that they cut the ASTS jobs. ASTS are just glorified AST associates and factored into the base.

What about AST? You would think they would keep ASTS and cut AST. You need at least one person in the office for vault, onboarding, timekeeping, terminations, etc.

who will be in charge of new hire on-boarding and I-9 documentation, plus the cash office?

I assume HRM's will be cut also.

You are going to have a lot of cuts in a lot of stores starting in January. My info is from working in a district office. I would not stay with Macy's if you can find something else. Do not allow loyalty or the holiday season fool you.

Would not surprise me. Where are you getting this information?